Front Mission Evolved to hit stores on September 14th, compete with that one game from Bungie

Late last year video game industry pundit and analyst Michael Pachter said that 2K Games sent Borderlands out to die as it went up against Call of Duty:Modern Warfare 2, Dragon Age: Origin and a host of other AAA titles. The game went on to sell very well and Senior Pachter was forced to eat some very large servings of crow.

I'm guessing the folks at Square Enix are thinking that Front Mission Evolved is capable of doing the same thing as they are releasing the game on September 14th, the same day that Bungie is releasing Halo:Reach. I could see where Front Mission Evolved might be considered counter-programming to the new Halo game but I don't think this is going to be one of those decisions that's going to be logged as a future case study by the folks at Harvard.

FRONT MISSION EVOLVED ADVANCES TO NORTH AMERICA ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

Landmark Franchise Evolves Into a Third-Person Shooter This Fall

LOS ANGELES (May 24, 2010) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that the North American launch date for FRONT MISSION EVOLVED™ has been updated to September 14, 2010. Developed in collaboration by Double Helix Games and Square Enix, the riveting third-person shooter will be available on PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and in stereoscopic 3D for Windows PC.

FRONT MISSION EVOVLED breaks the mold of the franchise, delivering the action-packed experience of a third-person shooter within the distinct aesthetic of the FRONT MISSION® universe. Set in a world full of destruction, conspiracy and crumbling alliances, players will take on the role of Dylan Ramsey to face enemy armies while in control of a giant, customizable, bipedal tank known as a wanzer. Every wanzer is outfitted with extreme firepower, and players must fight through critical battles across a world on the brink of total war. As they make their way through metropolises such as New York City over 150 years in the future, FRONT MISSION EVOLVED will embed players in heart-pounding, large-scale action unlike anything they’ve ever seen before.

In addition to the single-player campaign, four different multiplayer modes allow players to enter a new battlefield solo or in a team. Players will be able to pit their highly customized wanzers against opponents from around the world so they may prove the superiority of their own war machines.

For more information, please visit www.frontmissionevolved.com and the official Facebook page. Additionally, keep up with the all the latest insider news from the team through the official development blog: http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/fme/.

Story:

In the future, the world is a changed place. Technology has advanced. Countries have merged into massive geopolitical blocks. But one thing, sadly, remains the same – humanity’s appetite for war. When a terrorist attack destroys one of the U.C.S.’s prized orbital elevators, the military is mobilized to eliminate the threat.

Dylan Ramsey, a young engineer, finds himself quickly caught in a swirl of destruction, conspiracies and crumbling alliances. Experience his story in this high-octane third-person shooter.

Choose from dozens of weapons and parts, including weapons that can be equipped on both hands and shoulders, to customize your wanzer and blast your way to victory.

When you think you’re ready for a new challenge, join the ranks of online pilots for intense multiplayer battles!

Features:

· Engage enemies amidst the concrete of labyrinthine cities, across the frozen wastes of the Antarctic and a host of other unique battlefields. Master the speed, firepower and adaptability of the multipurpose wanzer to ensure survival and success.

· Choose from dozens of weapons and parts, including weapons that can be equipped on both hands and shoulders to build a war machine suited to any play style.

· Optimize wanzer mobility for any type of terrain with specialized leg parts.

· After trashing enemies in single-player mode, enter a new battlefield online – solo or in a team – and match skills against other players fielding their own, highly customized wanzers.

· Become immersed in a rich story crafted by the storytelling masterminds at Square Enix.

· Experience the full force of battle in stereoscopic 3D for Windows PC through NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ technology.

FRONT MISSION EVOLVED is rated T (Teen). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. FRONT MISSION EVOLVED will be available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $59.99 for the PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360, and $49.99 for Windows PC.

FRONT MISSION EVOLVED will also be available for PC users via download, including through Valve’s Steam® platform for digital content distribution.

About Square Enix, Inc.

Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S. based wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., a holding company leading Square Enix Group. Square Enix, Inc. publishes and distributes entertainment content under the Square Enix Group’s internationally renowned brands such as Square Enix, Eidos and Taito in the Americas. The Square Enix Group includes a global network of leading development studios located in North America, Europe and Japan. The Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 96 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 53 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and other well-established products and services.

More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com.